Posted on 03/12/2005 12:26:36 PM PST by DCBryan1
Need Vet advice on sick freeper kitty.
I'm sorry to hear about Casey; may she recover soon. Prayers for you both.
TKG
Hear our Prayers, O Lord, for our FRiend and his dear Kitty!
I have been with Casey for almost 48 hours, and I have to say that the last few (esp. since I posted) hours have been much better.
Casey is trying SO hard to just get up and move around, but poor kitty just has her strength sapped by the anaphylactic shock she had FRI AM.
Last time I posted, I had some TLC time with her on the couch while we watched our favorite channel: Fox News Channel. Im sure that between God, Freepers, TLC, and Fox, that we have all the bases covered.
I just got through putting her to bed on her favorite blanket with a heating blanket on low below it. (Vets orders since she had a 98 degree temp this AM). I also got what I think was an amazing amount of Hills Science a/d wet cat food down her throat. (She wanted to eat, but just couldn't hold her head up long enough). I got about two (2) tablespoons down plus another tablespoon of water. I also got a 1/2 tablespoon of the ultrahigh calorie Nutrical down. Best part is that I got her hydrated with a SUB-Q IV drip and she took the prescibed amount of about 1 cup (never done that before, but it left a puffy "water bubble" under her skin between her shoulder blades). Kinda neet though.
So, after getting alot of food down (w/o throwing up) and hydrating her, I feel pretty good. I sat down next to her and stroked her to sleep. She was purring pretty loud (about 60 percent of normal). I don't think she was in pain. She was "twitching" and moving like people do when they dream. Question: Can cats purr and be asleep at the same time? She seemed to smile and be very content and relaxed.
I want to take this time to say thank you to God, and to Freepers, because I do believe in the power of prayer, even for the smallest life that God cares for. I truely believe that she has gotten better, and showed improvement since you have prayed for her. Please keep them coming because I was told by the vet that she has about a 70 percent chance of not making it to Monday AM. Hopefully God, Prayers, Freepers, and TLC can prove the vet wrong.
I am going to head off to bed tonight content that I have done everything possible to make her comfortable and I appreciate your advice and help. I could probably use a prayer or two my way also, but keep little Casey in mind mostly. She is dear to me.
Good night and thanks again. I will give another SITREP around 10 AM CST.
Chris
YAY! Purring is a REALLY good sign!!
Thanks for the report - I'll check back for more later... (no pressure)... :)
Good!
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Kitty Ping List alert!
[Freepmail me to get on or off the Kitty Ping List.]
Glad to hear the good news. My little JRT has not vomited in 36 hours. She ate a little today and it has not come back up. I thank all who have prayed for Tootie as well.
Please be with Tootie and Casey tonight!
Amen
Boy, that felt good!
Excellent! Will say another prayer at bedtime tonite. I have 8 cats myself, all near and dear to me ranging from almost 18 years old down to 4 years old. The 18 year old is a grey, tan and white calico and she looks like a kitten and runs around and plays like one. B-)
Thanks for the update. Still praying.
Prayers up for Casey, Bryan:
Purring is always a good sign. So is Casey's trying to move around.
Cats have a built-in health and well being warning system. A second eyelid like membrane called a "Haw". If a cat is not feeling well. The greenish haw will become visible in the corners of the cat's eyes and progress from the sides towards the middle.
Follow the vet's instructions. Though it sounded like Casey had a bad reaction to serum. Or a bad batch of serum.
Jack.
God bless you and Casey. Losing a good pet companion is so sad.
My Paula was notorious for napping and purring so loud that it would interrupt her paw twitching Mouse and Mole Catching dreams and wake herself up.
If Casey holds her food down through the night, Bryan. I think you're better than half-way through the woods.
Jack.
"I couldnt believe what I just heard 5 mins ago and thought I would come up and tell you that even though she is exhausted and almost paralyzed with non-movement, she is actually PURRING...."
That's so sweet. Casey sure loves you!
Hate to disagree with your mother, but I don't know that I agree about the purring business. Cats sometimes purr when they're nervous, but my guess is that she's carrying on cause she's happy to be near you.
Years ago, when our Edgar was in renal failure, our vet suggested that I put a smudge of molasses on his nose to help jumpstart his appetite. Theory being, when a cat licks it off, it raises their blood sugar level which tends to make them feel a bit better. If all goes well, that sometimes makes them willing to take a bite of food -- though it doesn't always work. Do know that cats are notorious non-eaters when they are ill, which you likely know. Only other "trick" I know is to try to bribe a sick cat with a jar of baby food. Gerbers junior meats, notably lamb and chicken, work well with my "kids." BUT, and this is important, I'm not a vet. I highly recommend that you check with Casey's vet before following any of my suggestions.
You really need to know that you're doing a wonderful job! Hope you realize that. If you don't, please give it some thought. Sounds to me as though you're fighting right alongside her and helping her at every turn -- which is a whole lot. According to our super-vet, many people throw in the towel the instant they discover their pet is sick. That's their perogative, but it's clear you're working hard to give Casey a chance. She's a lucky girl.
Please stay in touch. Everyone's pulling for you and Casey. Take good care.
If in the future, you ever wish to get another kitty, I have had some good luck with my cats by doing these things. Over the past 30 years my wife and I have had numerous cats, up to five at a time, all cats that spend as much time as they liked outside in the the four seasons of Pennsylvania. They all got their original shots and were "fixed" and that was it, nothing else. We live near racoon, deer, and all the rest, and all has been well. We have always been under the impression that cats can take care of most things. Thusly, most of the cats never were sick, never needed the vet's attention and lived to an average of 18-22 years.
One thing that we think may have had something to do with their good health was this: we steamed a carrot or two every week, smashed them, and mixed it into their moist foods...... worked well in tuna and chicken, etc. About one fifth carrots was good enough. Purina dry was the other food.
Anyhow, I pray for your kitty and I feel for you. They are always your good friend.
Carolyn
Late to the thread, but I'm happy your kitty is feeling better. It's so terribly tough to see our little ones suffer. Prayers for continued improvement.
I found her downstairs in the pool room, the farthest trek she has made since her vaccinations on FRI AM. She seemed more alert and was sitting up kinda in a sick-kitty praying position, but that was much better than just laying on her side completely exhausted like a dead cat. She had deficated on the floor and I had to clean her little bottom a little. It looked and smelled like Nutrical, so I am sure that she passed it. I also looked for throw-up and could not find any.
I just gave her more SUB - Q hydration from the IV bag, and about 2 tablespoons of wet catfood (semi-forced). She also took a 1/2 teaspoon of nutrical (forced). Now she is resting next to me while I post on Free Republic.....and has a gentile purr.
Will keep you updated. Unfortunately, I have missed church, so extra prayers would be appreciated. I would like to go to church, but don't want to leave her alone.
Chris.
Continued prayers. Looks as if Casey is doing better! With all the prayers going out, there is no need to explain about church. He knows! :)
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